Blinken: Iranian Government Must End Systematic Harassment of Women
Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, called on the Islamic Republic to end systematic harassment and persecution of women.
Mr. Blinken wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) Monday evening, referring to the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police, that she “should be alive today, but instead, the United States and the people of Iran mourn her.”
He then emphasized that “the Iranian government must stop the systematic harassment of women and allow peaceful protests.”
The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by morality police in Tehran, has sparked public outrage in Iran and led to widespread protests across the country.
Tehran and several other cities including Rasht, Isfahan, Sanandaj, and Karaj witnessed protests on Monday that turned violent after security and riot control forces intervened.
Some reports suggest that several protesters were killed in Kurdistan Province. The human rights organization Hengaw says that four people were killed in Saqqez, Mahsa Amini’s hometown, and Divandarreh as a result of “direct fire” from security forces. However, Radio Farda cannot independently verify this report.
On Monday evening, a spokesperson for the US State Department also criticized the crackdown on protesters over mandatory hijab in Iran, saying that the Islamic Republic should listen to the voices of protesters.
Ned Price wrote on social media platform X: “Iranian women should not be arrested for their clothing, let alone brutally beaten.”
He added: “The Iranian government should listen to those protesting the cruel death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, not shoot at them.”
Iranian officials have denied reports of Mahsa Amini being beaten in morality police custody and said that she had a heart condition. However, Amjad Amini, Mahsa Amini’s father, told the news outlet “Emtedad” in an interview that based on calls from several girls who had been detained with Mahsa that day, he is certain that “she was beaten.”
Several doctors have also emphasized upon viewing images of Ms. Amini at the hospital that in these circumstances, a blow to the head could be the cause of bleeding from the ear.
Source: Radio Farda
